MEMBERS of Arlebury Park sports club have resolved to fight their financial woes rather than go into liquidation.

The club, which has a 25-year lease to run the top floor bar area of the Arlebury Park complex, made the resolution at an extraordinary general meeting last week. It has run up debts of £40,000 in refurbishing the premises with new furniture, lighting and carpets. But declining membership numbers and a drop in custom has meant the club has been trading in the red over recent months.

Greene King, which loaned the club £40,000 for the renovations, has granted the club a six-month repayment holiday while the town council has deferred rent for three months, from April.

But Mark Luckham, a town councillor and a director of Arlebury Park sports club, is less than happy with the council's support.

He said: "I am very disappointed about the way the council has failed to support the club, in the way that I think it should.

"The club does a number of things for the community. I feel strongly that the council should be issuing grants to the club to do these things.

"I am very disappointed to find that a number of councillors would happily see the club shut down."

Colin Tester, chairman of the club, said the news was a bit of a "wake-up call"and that, as a result, the club has had to reduce the wage bill. He added there would not be any redundancies but hours would be reduced and voluntary shifts introduced, instead.

Mr Tester said he was keen to improve the image of the club with the local community.

He said: "I think people are unaware about what's there. It's not a grotty working man's club, it's quite posh up there now."

He added that he wanted to broaden the range of events held at Arlebury Park, to include a beer festival and other special evenings.

As well as refusing to go into liquidation the club resolved to draw up a charter to protect its interests should another party take over.

Members also voted to allow minimum donations of £100 to the club in exchange for an extended honorary membership.

The club will report back to members on a monthly basis to update them on their financial position.